At the time of its origin, the day was celebrated only in the memory of Union soldiers who fell in the American Civil War in 1865. The idea was triggered by African Americans. Since the end of the First World War, the idea caught on and is now celebrated as a day to remember all martyred U.S. soldiers in any war. The present Memorial Day was first observed at Charleston, South Carolina, in 1865. The observance of the day and its celebration began at various locations with their own individual ways of celebrations. Major General John Logan had a big role to play in promoting the event to national importance. He christened the day as "Decoration Day" on seeing the manner in which families of the martyrs adorned the graves of the loved ones they lost in the war.